photo © 2006 Giulio Bernardi | more info (via: Wylio)

I was going to do another Fashion Friday but my heart isn't in it today. I fell asleep on the couch watching the news coverage of the devastation in Japan. The images of the waves of water moving through communities will stay with me for a long time. I can only imagine how much worse it will be when the waters completely recede and the cleanup, rescue and recovery efforts can begin. 

On Twitter I mentioned that before social media (and I guess before becoming a SAHM), it was very likely that I wouldn't have know about the quake and tsunami until I woke up the next day. And even that would depend on whether I had time to turn on the news while getting ready. How things have changed!

The Huffington Post has a thorough piece on who is collecting funds for relief aid. At times like this, it's reaffirming to see humanity come together but also sickens me to see those who take this as an opportunity to commit fraud and prey on our sense of giving. Please make sure you donate to a reputable, legitimate organization.

My thoughts and prayers are with everyone in Japan as they deal with aftershocks and new quakes; To all who have loved ones and family over there; to our military who are on their way to help; and anyone else with ties over there.

How to Embarrass Your Kids at Disneyland

Every ride you go on, even if it's not a coaster, raise your arms and start singing Taio Cruz's Dynamite. 

Big Thunder Mountain, March 2011

"I throw my hands up in the air sometimes, saying ay-oh, baby let's go!" 

Totally works.

Sometimes I Miss Having a Landlord

When we bought our house, I had grand visions of being able to take the fixer, put our stamp on it and turn it into a reflection of our personalities. I had the idea that we'd be able to steadily take the ugly canvas the previous owners gave us and create a space we both love and want to share with others. 

I thought by now, we'd have made it through all the upstairs rooms and we'd have this great place to relax and entertain. Not so much. In the almost four years we've lived here we've only been able to do the kitchen, and even that isn't all the way done (Phil would want to me to make sure you know that the incompleteness of the kitchen is all my fault). 

It shouldn't surprise me then, that the things that were falling apart when we bought our place aren't holding up over time. I don't know why I assumed something that was already broken wouldn't get more so after years of use. Case in point, our downstairs toilets. They suck. They've only got one job to do and they can't handle it. They're constantly overflowing and backing up. The plunger has become another bathroom accessory. A few days ago, the flush chain thing (which is how I would ask for it at Home Depot) in Tyler's bathroom broke for the second time. 

At this point, we think we should just get another toilet. We didn't want to replace it until we were ready to remodel the bathroom, but who knows how many more years will go by before that happens! So, I'm researching potties. In the interim, we have to keep the toilet usable for Tyler. If he wakes up the night it's easier for him to use his own bathroom rather than go upstairs and I definitely don't want him waking us to use ours. The solution? Hand flushing. 

If by some wacky coincidence the other two bathrooms in the house are occupied I'll hold it until my eyes turn yellow rather than stick my arm in the back of the toilet to lift the rubber stopper, but I think Tyler actually gets a kick out of it. Once we told him it was clean water back there he didn't seem to mind, but I do. It's bad enough all the toilet seats are almost always up but now I have to look into the tank, too. I don't think it could possible get anymore ghetto than this! Hopefully I won't have to live with it like this for too much longer. 

Have any of you had to replace a toilet recently and can recommend a model? Preferably self cleaning, mildew resistant, stain and smell resistant with an auto lower seat and lid? 

Skype Premium $10 for 3 Months | Groupon Deal

photo © 2010 SEO | more info (via: Wylio)

This is a pretty neat deal. I like that Groupon is thinking outside the massage and facials box. 

I've been using Skype a lot more lately and I love it. Forget business meetings, Skype is for stay at home moms! 

In the past few weeks I've video chatted with both Steph and Beej, two of my longtime bloggy friends and two of the funniest people I know. It's so great to take an online friendship offline and actually talk to the people behind the words in our feed readers. 

Plus, anything that lets me simultaneously connect with friends face to face, Tweet, fold laundry, and finish my coffee while it's still hot without getting that crick in my neck from holding the phone between my ear and shoulder I am all for!

I've been trying to get my Grandparents on Skype, I think today's Groupon could be just the deal to make it happen. Are you on Skype? What do you think?

Fine print: Deal is listed under Chicago, but it's national. Expires Apr 10, 2011. Limit 1 per person, may buy 2 additional as gifts. Limit 1 per Skype account. HD available only with HD camera. Not valid for users with US accounts through Skype Manager or Administrators. *Affiliate link